Richmond are coming for the AFL's top four and Port Adelaide's finals hopes hang in the balance after the Tigers cruised to a 38-point win at the MCG.
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Saturday's 15.11 (101) to 9.9 (63) victory extends the Tigers' winning streak to four games and lifts them to outright fifth on the ladder.
The Tigers led throughout and were never seriously troubled by a Port side that sorely missed injured co-captain Ollie Wines.
At a time when the whips are cracking for the finals contenders, everything looks to be coming together for the 2017 premiers.
Dustin Martin and Dion Prestia (30 disposals and a goal each) starred in the midfield, Tom Lynch (three majors) was again among the Tigers' best and Dylan Grimes (eight marks) anchored a superb backline performance.
Lynch, who underwent knee surgery during the off-season, has built slowly in his first season for the Tigers but now has 12 goals from his past four games.
The former Gold Coast spearhead capped off a strong performance in the final term when he gathered a loose ball off a fortunate bounce, fended off Port opponent Tom Clurey and snapped a stellar goal off his left boot.
Fellow key forward Jack Riewoldt also booted three goals in his second game back from a lengthy injury lay-off.
"They both looked dangerous at various stages," coach Damien Hardwick said.
"They're only a couple of games in really, so they're going to get better along the way and they'll work in unison a little bit more."
Richmond will be nervous about an incident involving midfielder Jack Graham late in the game which left Port youngster Dan Houston dazed.
Graham was paid a holding the ball free kick but his tackle which slammed Houston's head into the turf will attract match review scrutiny.
Port were on the wrong side of more questionable umpiring in the form of a 50-metre penalty paid against Justin Westhoff, who was pinged for attempting to keep alive an inbound kick from a teammate which hugged the boundary line.
The gulf in class and toughness between the two sides was nonetheless evident throughout with Karl Amon (28 disposals, two goals) one of Port's few strong performers.
"I thought at times we were there to challenge and we hurt ourselves," coach Ken Hinkley said.
"They beat us with their (pressure) game and they were too strong."
Having relentlessly targeted Lachie Neale last week in a predetermined plan to "terrorise" the Brisbane star, Cam Sutcliffe proved to be a non-factor against the Tigers.
Sutcliffe lined up next to Tigers playmaker Bachar Houli at the start but did not have a set job and floated in and out of the game.
The loss leaves ninth-placed Port a game outside the top eight and needing to beat GWS next week to keep their finals hopes alive.
Australian Associated Press
